Manassas school board elects Jill Spall chair; approves slate of appointments
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Summary
At its Jan. 5 organizational meeting the School Board of the City of Manassas elected Jill Spall chair and Zella Jones vice chair and approved a series of appointments and resolutions, including clerk and deputy clerk, board counsel, and designees for superintendent duties.
The School Board of the City of Manassas on Jan. 5 elected Jill Spall chair and Zella Jones vice chair and approved a package of organizational appointments and resolutions to carry the division through the 2027 organizational meeting.
The actions set the board's leadership and administrative authorities for the year. After nominations opened, board members endorsed Spall’s experience with Manassas City Public Schools; a board member who nominated her said she “leads with a strong student centered lens,” and the board approved her election by voice vote.
In a separate contest for vice chair, Diana Brown and Zella Jones were both nominated. The board first voted on Brown and then on Jones; Jones was elected by recorded tally, 6–1. The board recorded the dissenting votes in the minutes.
The board accepted the superintendent’s recommendations on multiple appointments. Alba Garza was appointed clerk of the school board and Maureen Wilkoski (transcribed variants) deputy clerk through the 2027 organizational meeting. Dr. Jennifer Casada (executive director of accountability and finance) was named the board’s agent to examine and authorize payment of claims, with Dr. Kevin D. Newman serving as deputy agent; that motion passed unanimously.
Board members also approved Resolution R2026-01 designating Craig Caffeller as primary designee and Dr. Jennifer Casada as alternate to act in the superintendent’s absence, and Resolution R2026-02 authorizing the superintendent to reassign teachers and school leaders under Code of Virginia section 22.1-2297. The board appointed Sands Anderson, P.C. as its legal counsel for the term and named Diana Brown as the district’s voting delegate to the Virginia School Boards Association annual convention with Dana Miles as alternate; those votes were unanimous.
Votes at a glance: Jill Spall, chair — elected (voice vote); Zella Jones, vice chair — elected (6–1); Alba Garza, clerk — appointed (7–0); Maureen Wilkoski, deputy clerk — appointed (7–0); Dr. Jennifer Casada and Dr. Kevin D. Newman, agent/deputy agent — appointed (7–0); R2026-01 and R2026-02 — approved (7–0); Sands Anderson, P.C., board counsel — appointed (7–0).
The board said the appointments will remain in effect until the next organizational meeting in 2027. Several members stressed student-focused continuity as the rationale for the choices.
The board adjourned after setting the remaining organizational items for the calendar year.